2010 United States Senate election in Colorado

The 2010 United States Senate election in Colorado took place on November 2, 2010, alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. In December 2008, President-elect Barack Obama nominated incumbent U.S. Senator Ken Salazar as Secretary of the Interior.[1] After Salazar resigned from his seat,[2] Democratic governor Bill Ritter appointed Denver Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bennet to fill the seat. Bennet won a full term, defeating former state House speaker Andrew Romanoff in the Democratic primary, and Republican nominee Ken Buck in the general election.[3][4]

2010 United States Senate election in Colorado
November 2, 2010
 
Nominee Michael Bennet Ken Buck
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 851,590 822,731
Percentage 48.1% 46.4%
County results
Bennet:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Buck:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
U.S. senator before election

Michael Bennet
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

Michael Bennet
Democratic

Elections in Colorado
Federal government
Presidential elections
Presidential caucuses
U.S. Senate elections
U.S. House elections
State government
General elections
Gubernatorial elections
State Senate elections
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Ballot measures
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
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2020
Aurora
Mayoral elections
Colorado Springs
Mayoral elections
Denver
Mayoral elections

Democratic primary

Candidates

Endorsements
Bennet
Romanoff

Polling
Poll Source Dates Administered Michael
Bennet		 Andrew
Romanoff		 Undecided
The Tarrance Group September 16–17, 2009 41% 27% 32%
Public Policy Polling May 19, 2010 46% 31% 23%
Survey USA June 15–17, 2010 53% 36% 11%
Survey USA August 1, 2010 45% 48% 7%
Public Policy Polling August 7–8, 2010 49% 43% 9%

Results
Results by county:
  Bennet—80–90%
  Bennet—70–80%
  Bennet—60–70%
  Bennet—50–60%
  Romanoff—50–60%
Democratic Primary results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Bennet (incumbent) 183,225 54.2%
Democratic Andrew Romanoff 154,961 45.8%
Total votes 338,186 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates
On Ballot
Declined

Three other candidates were defeated at the Republican state convention and were not on the primary ballot:

  • Cleve Tidwell, businessman
  • Robert Greenheck
  • Steve Barton

Endorsements
Notable Individuals and Organizations endorsing Ken Buck
Notable Individuals and Organizations endorsing Jane Norton

According to her website:[18][19]

Polling
Poll Source Dates Administered Ken
Buck		 Jane
Norton
The Tarrance Group September 16–17, 2009 15% 45%
Public Policy Polling March 3, 2010 17% 34%
Magellan March 14, 2010 13% 41%
Magellan April 19, 2010 32% 29%
Public Policy Polling May 19, 2010 26% 31%
Magellan June 8, 2010 42% 32%
Survey USA June 15–17, 2010 53% 37%
Public Opinion Strategies June 20–21, 2010 33% 39%
Survey USA August 1, 2010 50% 41%
Public Policy Polling August 7–8, 2010 43% 45%

Results
Republican Primary results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ken Buck 209,638 51.6%
Republican Jane Norton 196,954 48.4%
Total votes 406,592 100.0%

Libertarian primary

Candidates
  • John Finger
  • Mac Stringer

Results
Libertarian Primary results[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Libertarian Mac Stringer 1,176 52.5%
Libertarian John Finger 1,065 47.5%
Total votes 2,241 100.0%

General election

Major

Minor

Source: Official Candidate List

Campaign

This was one of the most expensive elections in the nation, as more than $30 million was spent by outside organizations.[21] Conservative third party groups hammered Bennet for voting 92% of the time with the Democratic leadership, including voting for healthcare reform and the stimulus package.[22] Liberal third party groups called Buck extremist. Bennet focused on attacking Buck's views on abortion, which he believed should be banned including those of cases of rape and incest. He was also attacked for wanting to eliminate the 17th Amendment[23] and refusing to prosecute an alleged rapist as Weld County district attorney. Planned Parenthood mounted a mail campaign, targeting women voters with the warning that "Colorado women can’t trust Ken Buck." Bennet won the women vote by 17 points according to exit polls. After the election, Buck conceded to the Denver Post that the main reason why he lost is because of social issues.[24]

Debates

Predictions
Source Ranking As of
Cook Political Report[26] Tossup October 30, 2010
Rothenberg[27] Tossup October 28, 2010
RealClearPolitics[28] Tossup October 30, 2010
Rasmussen Reports[29] Tossup October 27, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball[30] Lean R (flip) October 28, 2010
CQ Politics[31] Tossup October 30, 2010

Polling
Poll source Date(s) administered Michael
Bennet (D)		 Ken
Buck (R)
Public Policy Polling April 17–19, 2009 40% 39%
Public Policy Polling August 14–16, 2009 39% 35%
Rasmussen Reports September 9, 2009 43% 37%
Rasmussen Reports December 8, 2009 38% 42%
Daily Kos/Research 2000 January 11–13, 2010 41% 38%
Rasmussen Reports January 13, 2010 38% 43%
Rasmussen Reports February 2, 2010 41% 45%
Rasmussen Reports March 2, 2010 38% 44%
Public Policy Polling March 5–8, 2010 47% 40%
Rasmussen Reports April 5, 2010 40% 44%
Rasmussen Reports May 3, 2010 41% 48%
Public Policy Polling May 19, 2010 45% 39%
Rasmussen Reports June 7, 2010 41% 46%
Survey USA June 15–17, 2010 43% 46%
Rasmussen Reports July 8, 2010 39% 48%
Rasmussen Reports July 26, 2010 42% 48%
Survey USA August 1, 2010 43% 43%
Public Policy Polling August 10, 2010 46% 43%
Rasmussen Reports August 11, 2010 41% 46%
Ipsos/Reuters August 20–22, 2010 40% 49%
Rasmussen Reports August 30, 2010 44% 47%
Rasmussen Reports September 14, 2010 45% 49%
CNN/Time September 17–21, 2010 44% 49%
Rasmussen Reports September 27, 2010 43% 51%
Rasmussen Reports September 27, 2010 43% 51%
McClatchy/Marist September 26–28, 2010 42% 50%
Survey USA September 28–30, 2010 43% 48%
Public Policy Polling September 30 – October 2, 2010 46% 45%
Rasmussen Reports October 14, 2010 45% 47%
Fox News/Pulse Opinion Research October 16, 2010 45% 46%
Ipsos/Reuters October 18, 2010 45% 48%
SurveyUSA October 19–21, 2010 47% 47%
Public Policy Polling October 21–23, 2010 47% 47%
Rasmussen Reports October 25, 2010 44% 48%
CNN/Time/Opinion Research October 20–26, 2010 46% 47%
Marist College October 26–28, 2010 45% 49%
Fox News/Pulse Opinion Research October 30, 2010 46% 50%
Public Policy Polling October 30–31, 2010 48% 49%

Fundraising

These totals reflect the campaign accounts of the candidates themselves, and do not include independent expenditures by other groups.

Candidate (Party) Receipts Disbursements Cash On Hand Debt
Michael Bennet (D) $11,463,661 $10,698,578 $763,541 $887,692
Ken Buck (R) $3,827,432 $3,011,656 $1,039,994 $100,000
Source: Federal Election Commission[32]

Results
United States Senate election in Colorado, 2010[33][34][35]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Bennet (incumbent) 851,590 48.1%
Republican Ken Buck 822,731 46.4%
Green Bob Kinsey 38,768 2.2%
Libertarian Maclyn Stringer 22,589 1.3%
Independent Jason Napolitano 19,415 1.1%
Independent Charley Miller 11,330 0.6%
Independent J. Moromisato 5,767 0.3%
Total votes 1,772,190 100.0%
Democratic hold

References
  1. Osher, Christopher N.; Bunch, Joey (December 15, 2008). "Salazar poised to head Interior". Denver Post. Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  2. "Ken Salazar Resigns From Senate". Associated Press. January 19, 2009. Archived from the original on January 22, 2009. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  3. Crummy, Karen (January 2, 2009). "Michael Bennet chosen as next Senator". Denver Post. Retrieved January 2, 2009.
  4. Johnson, Kirk. "Michael Bennet News". The New York Times.
  5. "Colorado's Bennet Needs to Get Better Known for 2010". CQ Politics. January 27, 2009. Archived from the original on March 9, 2009. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  6. "Who Will Face Bennet?". Roll Call. February 10, 2009. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  7. Riley, Michael (August 29, 2009). "''Denver Post'' article on Andrew Romanoff". Denverpost.com. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  8. "Colorado Primary Results". Politico. August 10, 2010. Retrieved August 11, 2010.
  9. "The Buck starts here". April 27, 2009.
  10. Bartels, Lynn (August 17, 2009). "Former Lt. Gov. Norton mulling U.S. Senate bid". The Denver Post. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  11. "Beauprez not running for Senate - The Scorecard". Politico.Com. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  12. "Troy Eid to resign, run for Colorado attorney general". Coloradoindependent.com. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  13. Fender, Jessica (October 14, 2009). "Aurora's Ryan Frazier has work cut out for him in shift to challenge U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter". The Denver Post. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  14. "Denver Daily - Wiens, U.S. Senate candidate, drops out". Thedenverdailynews.com. May 25, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  15. Eli Stokols (April 14, 2010). "Tea Party Endorsement: Tea Party idol DeMint endorses Buck in Colorado Senate race". KDVR. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  16. "DeMint on Buck endorsement: 'We've got to have an earthquake election'". Coloradoindependent.com. April 23, 2010. Archived from the original on April 17, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  17. "CO US Senate - R Primary Race - August 10, 2010". Our Campaigns. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  18. "Conservatives Rally Behind Norton". Janenortonforcolorado.com. May 24, 2010. Archived from the original on August 18, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  19. "CO US Senate - R Primary Race - August 10, 2010". Our Campaigns. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  20. "Colorado - County Vote Results". ap.org. August 11, 2010. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  21. [CO] Colorado Election 2010 Results [SENATE UPDATE] | CNM News Network
  22. Buck for Congress (campaign website)
  23. Brady, Jeff (October 27, 2010). "Money Has Poured Into Colorado's Senate Race". npr.org. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  24. Burns, Alexander (November 13, 2010). "Abortion was winning issue for Dems". politico.com. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  25. Walter, Amy (September 12, 2010). "Buck and Bennet Trade Jabs In Feisty Colorado Senate Debate". abcnews.com. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  26. "Senate". Cook Political Report. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
  27. "Senate Ratings". Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
  28. "Battle for the Senate". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
  29. "Election 2010: Senate Balance Of Power". Rasmussen Reports. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
  30. "2010 Senate Ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
  31. "Race Ratings Chart: Senate". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
  32. "2010 House and Senate Campaign Finance for Colorado". fec.gov. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  33. "State Cumulative Report". Archived from the original on November 29, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  34. "Colorado - Election Results 2010 - The New York Times". nytimes.com. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  35. http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2010AbstractBook.pdf
Debate
Official campaign websites (Archived)
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